EP3677542B1 - Filling element with guide ring for guiding two concentric components - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a filling element with an oinon guide ring for guiding two concentrically arranged components in the filling element for filling a container with a flowable filling material.

State of the art

It is known to use filling elements to fill a container with a free-flowing filling material. It is known to provide a centering device, a so-called centering bell, to center the container to be filled relative to the filling element. The centering bell has the task of centering the container relative to the filling element. Furthermore, it can be provided that the centering bell also provides a seal between the opening of the container and the filling element.

For this purpose, the centering bell is arranged to be movable relative to the rest of the filling element, at least to the filling tube, along an axis which usually corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the filling tube of the filling element. It is known to guide the centering bell relative to the filling element on a radially outer side of the centering bell via piston guide bands. In order to achieve a seal, a seal, for example in the form of a pneumatic piston sealing ring, is provided between the piston guide bands.

Filling elements designed in this way are relatively difficult to clean. If, for example, a so-called "cleaning in place" CIP cleaning of the filling element is carried out, the cleaning medium used for cleaning only reaches one of the two piston guide bands, namely the one in front of the seal. The piston guide band beyond the seal, however, is not cleaned, so it has to be cleaned separately. Cleaning agent supply from the other side of the seal is required. In addition, after cleaning, cleaning agent, water and/or product residues are still present above the seal and below the upper edge of the centering bell, which can lead to contamination of the filling material when it is refilled. The aforementioned space cannot be allowed to drain. To prevent the filling material from being contaminated by product residues or cleaning agent, the filling device must be rinsed at least with water.

The DE 32 44 383 A1 describes a ball joint bearing. The DE 80 29 789 U1 describes a sliding and guiding ring made of plastic. A filling device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 26 38 749 A1 known.

representation of the invention

Based on the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved filling device for filling a container with a flowable filling material.

The object is achieved by a filling device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, a filling element for filling a container with a flowable filling material is proposed, preferably for filling a can or a bottle with a beverage, comprising two components arranged concentrically to one another and movable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis, wherein a first of the two components extends radially outside the second of the two components. The filling element is characterized in that at least one guide ring for guiding the first component relative to the second component is arranged between an outer side of the second component and an inner side of the first component, which guide ring comprises a base body essentially in the shape of a circular ring segment, wherein a plurality of spaced-apart sliding regions protruding radially on a first side of the base body for sliding over a cylindrical surface and a plurality of spaced-apart support regions protruding radially on a second side opposite the first side for radial or radial and axial support against at least one support surface are arranged on the base body.

Due to the fact that a plurality of spaced apart sliding areas projecting radially on a first side of the base body are provided on the base body for sliding over a cylindrical surface and a plurality of support regions spaced apart from one another and projecting radially on a second side opposite the first side for radial or radial and axial support against at least one support surface are arranged, it is possible to guide the first component, preferably the centering bell, on a radially inner side of the first component, preferably the centering bell, on an outer side of the second component, preferably the filling tube, of the filling element. Because the sliding regions and the support regions each project radially, only these regions come into contact with the first component, preferably the centering bell, and the second component, preferably the filling tube. As a result, flow channels are provided, for example between the inside of the centering bell and the outside of the filling tube in the areas where only the base body extends, through which a medium such as a cleaning fluid or gas displaced from the container during filling with the filling material, such as air, can pass.

In other words, a guide ring designed in this way can be arranged in a media channel which is formed between the outside of the filling tube and the inside of the centering bell extending radially outside the filling tube, without causing a significant impairment of a possible media flow through the media channel.

Furthermore, the size of the filling element can be designed radially to the axis of movement of the centering bell, which preferably corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the filling tube, with a reduced width compared to conventional devices, since no support element including a gap for receiving the piston guide bands is to be provided radially outside the centering bell. Due to the associated material savings on the filling element, a filling element constructed in this way can also be more cost-effective.

Such a guide ring can also be arranged directly between the filling tube and the centering bell. This can have the further advantage that if two guide rings are provided to guide the centering bell relative to the filling tube, these can be arranged further apart in the axial direction of the filling tube than is possible due to the available installation space for piston guide rings which are arranged radially outside the centering bell.

According to a further development, the first side, viewed in the radial direction, corresponds to an inner side of the base body and the second side, viewed in the radial direction, corresponds to an outer side of the base body. This design makes it possible for the guide ring to be located on the Centering bell supports it and can slide over the filling tube. In other words, the guide ring can be held in a fixed position relative to the centering bell, whereby the centering bell and guide ring can move together relative to the filling tube. It has been found that this makes assembling the filling element particularly easy. The guide ring can be pre-assembled with the centering bell and the resulting assembly can then be pushed onto the filling tube. In particular, maintenance of the filling element, for example replacing a guide ring, is also possible without great effort.

The first side can also correspond to an outside of the base body when viewed in the radial direction and the second side can accordingly correspond to an inside of the base body when viewed in the radial direction. This allows the guide ring to be supported on the filling tube and the centering bell to move relative to the filling tube and the guide ring. This design also enables particularly simple production of the filling element and uncomplicated maintenance.

According to a further development, the sliding areas each have at least one sliding surface, wherein the sliding surfaces are preferably arranged in the radial direction on a sliding circle, wherein the radius of the sliding circle is preferably smaller than or equal to an inner radius of the base body if the first side corresponds to the inside, or the radius of the sliding circle is equal to or greater than an outer radius of the base body if the first side corresponds to the outside of the base body. This makes it possible for the base body on the side on which the sliding areas protrude relative to the base body not to come into contact with the cylindrical surface with which the sliding areas are in contact. In particular, if the area in which the guide ring is arranged is designed as a media channel, a flow channel can be provided between the base body and the cylindrical surface. In addition, the base body experiences no or reduced material abrasion due to contact with the cylindrical surface.

In order to provide a small contact area between the sliding surfaces and the cylindrical surface on which the sliding surfaces slide, and thus to keep the maximum possible abrasion, which can contaminate the filling material, as low as possible, the sliding surfaces can have a concave curvature with a radius which is smaller or larger than the radius of the sliding pitch circle if the first side corresponds to the inside, or alternatively the sliding surfaces can have a have a convex curvature with a radius which is smaller or larger than the radius of the sliding circle if the first side corresponds to the outside of the base body.

If, according to a further development, a sliding area and a support area are arranged opposite one another at essentially the same location in the circumferential direction of the base body, a particularly precise guidance of the centering bell can be achieved. This design enables a particularly direct transmission of force between the filling tube, guide ring and centering bell, at least in the radial direction.

The support areas and the sliding areas can also be arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible, for example, to provide a preload in an area of the base body between a support area and a sliding area, which centers the centering bell relative to the filling tube when the guide ring is installed.

According to a further development, the support areas each have at least one support surface for radial and/or axial support, wherein each support area preferably has two support surfaces which are opposite one another in the axial direction, inclined and/or rounded to the axial direction and which are designed in such a way that radial support and axial support are possible via both support surfaces, wherein axial support in a first direction is possible via a first of the two support surfaces of a support area and axial support in a second direction opposite to the first direction is possible via a second of the two support surfaces of the same support area. As a result, the guide ring can be supported on the support surface in both the radial and axial directions, and the guide ring can therefore be held in a fixed position both axially and radially relative to the component having the at least one support surface.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if at least one support surface has a double curvature. The two opposing radial support surfaces can be realized by a first curvature. The size of the contact surface of these support surfaces to the support surface can be reduced by providing the second curvature compared to support surfaces with one curvature. By reducing the contact surface, abrasion on this contact surface can also be reduced accordingly.

A particularly simple design of the guide ring can be achieved if the guide ring is formed in one piece and/or is an injection-molded part, a milled part, a turned part, or a 3D-printed part.

According to a further development, the support areas and/or the sliding areas protrude in the axial direction from the base body on at least one side of the base body. This allows the flow channels to be enlarged further in comparison, since the distance between the base body and the support surface or cylindrical surface is even greater.

It has been shown that a particularly advantageous guide ring can be obtained if a plurality of studs are arranged along the base body, which protrude radially from the base body, each stud having a sliding area and a support area. In other words, the studs of the guide ring, which provide both the support and sliding functions, are connected to one another via webs, with the base body providing the webs.

According to a further development, the base body extends in a circular arc segment, wherein the open area of the circular arc segment is larger than an increase in the length of the base body in the circumferential direction due to a temperature change in a predetermined temperature range. In other words, the base body does not have a continuous circular ring, but is interrupted at one point in the circumferential direction. This means that the guide ring can, for example, be easily pushed or clipped radially onto the filling tube, or pushed into the centering bell by radial compression in order to then snap into a provided recess, for example. In the case of a circular arc segment, in contrast to a full circular ring, essentially only the thermal expansion in the circumferential direction needs to be taken into account when the temperature changes. The tolerances for guiding the centering bell on the filling tube can therefore be selected very tightly.

If the base body has a radially outward widening or inward narrowing shape in relation to a shape of the guide ring provided in an installation position, the guide ring can be provided with a preload in the installation position. The installation position is essentially determined by the inner diameter of the centering bell in the area of the guide ring or by the outer diameter of the filling tube in the area of the guide ring. If the base body has a radially outward widening or inward narrowing shape in the non-installed state, If the guide ring has a shape that widens radially outwards, it is deformed radially inwards when it is installed in the centering bell, as the inner diameter of the centering bell is then smaller than at least one outermost pitch circle segment of the guide ring. This means that the guide ring is pre-stressed relative to the centering bell with a certain amount of tension, which is essentially determined by the base body or its deformation during installation. The pre-tension can be set in such a way that the guide ring can be held in a fixed position in the centering bell via the pre-tension, which can simplify assembly. The same applies to a shape that narrows radially inwards with regard to the filling tube.

According to a further development, the guide ring is designed such that when a fluid flows around the guide ring in the axial direction through the fluid, a resulting force acts on the guide ring in the circumferential direction, wherein the guide ring is preferably designed essentially symmetrically and additionally has an asymmetrical swirl surface which is arranged such that when the fluid flows around the guide ring in the axial direction through the fluid, a force is generated on the guide ring in the circumferential direction. This can result in the guide ring experiencing an asymmetrical flow when a cleaning medium flows around the guide ring and can experience a change in position in the circumferential direction due to the resulting swirl. This makes it possible for essentially the entire cylindrical surface and the entire support surface to come into contact with the cleaning fluid. As a result, particularly complete cleaning can be achieved.

If, according to a further development, a maximum width of the base body perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide ring corresponds to less than or equal to 2/3, preferably 1/2, particularly preferably 1/4 of a maximum width of the guide ring perpendicular to the axial direction, and/or a maximum height of the base body parallel to the axial direction of the guide ring corresponds to less than or equal to 4/5, preferably 3/5 of a maximum height of the guide ring parallel to the axial direction, it can be achieved that the flow channels thus provided for the medium which is to pass through the area of the guide ring are so large that there is no significant obstruction to the flow of the medium.

Because at least one guide ring according to one of the above embodiments is arranged between the outside of the second component and the inside of the first component for guiding the first component relative to the second component, the advantages and effects described for the guide ring can be achieved analogously.

The aforementioned advantages and effects are achieved in a particularly advantageous manner if, according to a further preferred embodiment, the second component is a filling tube for providing a flow of filling material and the first component is a centering bell extending radially outside the filling tube and movable relative to the filling tube along the longitudinal axis of the filling tube for centering and/or sealing a container opening.

According to a further development, a return gas channel is formed between an outer side of the second component, preferably the filling tube, and an inner side of the first component, preferably the centering bell, for returning gases displaced from the container by inflowing filling material, with at least one guide ring being arranged in the return gas channel. The guide ring makes it possible for gas displaced when a container is filled with the filling material to flow through the return gas channel and over the guide ring. Thus, despite the provision of the guide ring in the return gas channel, reliable degassing is still possible.

In order to stably support the first component, preferably a centering bell, in a sliding manner relative to the second component, preferably a filling tube, according to a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of guide rings can be arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the first component and the second component, preferably the filling tube and the centering bell, for guiding the first component relative to the second component, preferably the centering bell relative to the filling tube, wherein preferably two guide rings are provided.

According to a further development, a groove, preferably a V-shaped groove, is provided on the inside of the first component, preferably the centering bell, for receiving the support areas of a guide ring, and/or a groove, preferably a V-shaped groove, is provided on the outside of the second component, preferably the filling tube, for receiving the support areas of a guide ring The V-shaped groove allows the support areas to be supported both in the radial direction and in two mutually oriented axial directions.

The term "V-shaped groove" refers to any shape in which two surfaces of a groove enclose an angle greater than 0° and less than 180°, whereby these two surfaces function as a support surface.

If each support region of the guide ring has two support surfaces opposite one another as seen in the axial direction, wherein a first of the support surfaces is in contact with a first surface of the V-shaped groove and a second of the support surfaces is in contact with a second surface of the V-shaped groove, the guide ring can be supported on both sides as seen in the axial direction.

In order to make the contact area between the support surfaces and the at least one support surface as small as possible, the support surfaces can have a rounded zone, with the support surfaces each being in contact with the corresponding surfaces of the V-shaped groove with the rounded zone, such that there is a point contact or a line contact between a support surface and the groove. The terms point contact and line contact are to be understood macroscopically and are not limited to a point or a line. Rather, they are to be understood as a contact area that is reduced in comparison to full-surface contact. The terms therefore also include surface contacts that arise, for example, through a Hertzian pressure between two elastic bodies.

According to a further development, the filling element further comprises a swirl body for generating a swirl-loaded flow in the area of a guide ring. This makes it possible to introduce a swirl into the guide ring, even if it is essentially symmetrically constructed. The swirl-loaded flow can cause the guide ring to move in the circumferential direction when a cleaning medium flows around it, so that the cleaning medium can also clean the areas of the support surfaces and the cylindrical surface that were in contact with the guide ring before it moved.

Further advantages and features of the present invention are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described therein can be used alone or in combination with one or more of the features set out above. implemented, provided that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Short description of the characters

Figur 1

schematisch eine perspektivische Seitenansicht eines Führungsrings zum Führen zweier konzentrisch zueinander angeordneter Bauteile in einem Füllorgan gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 2

schematisch eine Draufsicht des Führungsrings aus Figur 1;

Figur 3

schematisch eine Schnittansicht durch den Führungsring aus Figur 2;

Figur 4

schematisch eine weitere Schnittansicht durch den Führungsring aus Figur 2;

Figur 5

schematisch eine perspektivische Seitenansicht eines Führungsrings zum Führen zweier konzentrisch zueinander angeordneter Bauteile in ein Füllorgan gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Figur 6

schematisch eine Draufsicht des Führungsring aus Figur 5;

Figur 7

schematisch eine Seitenansicht des Führungsrings aus Figur 5;

Figur 8

schematisch eine perspektivische Seitenansicht eines Füllorgans zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem fließfähigen Füllgut;

Figur 9

schematisch eine Schnittansicht durch das Füllorgan aus Figur 8;

Figur 10

schematisch eine weitere Schnittansicht durch das Füllorgan aus Figur 8; und

Figur 11

schematisch eine Schnittansicht durch ein Füllorgan zum Befüllen eines Behälters mit einem vielfältigen Füllgut gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures.

Figure 1

schematically a perspective side view of a guide ring for guiding two concentrically arranged components in a filling element according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2

schematically a top view of the guide ring from Figure 1 ;

Figure 3

schematically a sectional view through the guide ring from Figure 2 ;

Figure 4

schematically another sectional view through the guide ring from Figure 2 ;

Figure 5

schematically a perspective side view of a guide ring for guiding two concentrically arranged components into a filling element according to a further embodiment;

Figure 6

schematically a top view of the guide ring from Figure 5 ;

Figure 7

schematically a side view of the guide ring from Figure 5 ;

Figure 8

schematically a perspective side view of a filling device for filling a container with a flowable filling material;

Figure 9

schematically a sectional view through the filling device Figure 8 ;

Figure 10

schematically another sectional view through the filling device Figure 8 ; and

Figure 11

schematically a sectional view through a filling device for filling a container with a diverse filling material according to another embodiment.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference symbols, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In Figure 1 is a schematic perspective side view of a guide ring for guiding two components arranged concentrically to one another in a filling device according to a first embodiment. The guide ring 4 has a base body 40, which essentially has the shape of a circular ring segment or a circular arc segment 402. A plurality of accompanying regions 41, spaced apart from one another, projecting radially on a first side 43 of the base body 40 for sliding over a cylindrical surface and a plurality of support regions 42, spaced apart from one another, projecting radially on a second side 44 opposite the first side 43 for radial and axial support against at least one support surface, are arranged on the base body 40.

In this case, a sliding region 41 and a support region 42 are arranged opposite one another in the circumferential direction 47 of the base body 40 at essentially the same location as seen in the radial direction 44. The base body 40 therefore has a plurality of knobs 48 projecting radially inwards and outwards from the base body 40, each knob 48 having a sliding region 41 and a support region 42.

In the present case, the first side 43, viewed in the radial direction 45, corresponds to an inner side of the base body 40 and the second side 44, viewed in the radial direction 45, corresponds to an outer side of the base body 40.

Alternatively, the sliding regions 41 and the support regions 42 can be arranged the other way around, if the first side, viewed in the radial direction 40, corresponds to an outer side of the base body 40 and the second side, viewed in the radial direction 45, corresponds to an inner side of the base body 40.

Each of the sliding areas 41 has a sliding surface 410 with which it is in contact with the cylindrical surface when installed in the filling element.

Furthermore, each of the support areas 42 has two support surfaces 420 which are opposite one another in the axial direction 46 and are inclined to the axial direction 46 and rounded. The support surfaces 420 are designed in such a way that radial support is possible via both support surfaces 420. They are also designed in such a way that axial support in a first direction is possible via a first of the two support surfaces 420 and axial support in a second direction opposite to the first direction is possible via a second of the two support surfaces 420 of the same protection area 42. More details on supporting the guide ring 4 in a filling device can be found below. Figure 9 described.

The guide ring 4 is in this case formed in one piece and can be produced by means of injection molding or a 3D printing process.

Figure 2 shows schematically a top view of the guide ring 4 from Figure 1 . It can be clearly seen here that the sliding surfaces 420 are arranged on a sliding circle 412 when viewed in the radial direction 45. The radius of the sliding circle 412 is smaller than an inner radius 400 of the circular ring-segment-shaped base body 40, so that the sliding regions 41 protrude inwards from the base body 40 when viewed in the radial direction 45.

Similarly, the support areas 42 extend up to a maximum diameter 482 of the guide ring 4, which is larger than an outer radius 401 of the circular ring segment-shaped base body 40. Accordingly, the support areas 42 partially protrude outwards from the base body 40 in the radial direction to the base body 40. Accordingly, it follows that a width 404 of the base body 40 is smaller than a maximum width 480 of a nub 84. As a result, flow channels 8 are provided in the area of the base body 40 between the sliding part circle 412 and the base body 40, as well as between the maximum diameter 482 and the base body 40, through which a flowable medium can flow in the axial direction 46 over the guide ring 4. The guide ring 4 is therefore suitable for use in a media channel, for example in a return gas channel or a flushing channel of the filling element.

As already described above, the base body extends in a circular ring segment or circular arc segment 402. It therefore has an open area 403 as seen in the circumferential direction 47. The open area 403 is larger than an increase in length of the base body 40 in the circumferential direction 47, which occurs due to an increase in temperature of the guide ring 4 in a predetermined temperature range.

By providing the open area 403, the base body 40 can lengthen in the circumferential direction when the temperature increases, without the guide ring 4 necessarily expanding in the middle of an increase in diameter. Accordingly, the tolerances of the guide ring 4 on the sliding surfaces 410 and the support surfaces 420 can be selected to be tighter than with continuous guide rings.

Figure 3 shows schematically a sectional view through the guide ring 4 from Figure 2 along the Figure 2 shown section line AA, which runs through two of the knobs 48. It can be clearly seen here that the support surfaces 420, which are inclined to the axial direction 46 and rounded, are arranged in such a way that the first support surface, here marked with the reference number 420, provides support with respect to the alignment in Figure 3 axially to the left, and by the second support surface, here designated by the reference numeral 420', a support with respect to the orientation in Figure 3 axially to the right is possible. Due to the inclination of the two support surfaces 420, 420', radial support is also possible.

The knobs 48 have a width 480 which is greater than a width 404 of the base body 40, whereby the size of the flow channels 8 can be further increased and thus a resistance or an obstruction to the flow of a flow medium in the axial direction 46 seen through the guide ring 4 in the installed state is further reduced.

In other words, the support regions 42 and the sliding regions 41 protrude from the base body 40 on both sides as seen in the axial direction 46.

In Figure 4 is a schematic further sectional view through the guide ring 4 from Figure 2 shown. Since the guide ring 4 is cut over its entire surface in this view, the flow channels 8, which are provided between the material of the guide ring 4 and the sliding part circle 410 as well as the maximum diameter 482, can be seen particularly well.

The guide ring 4 according to this embodiment optionally has a maximum width 404 of the base body 40 perpendicular to the axial direction 46, which is less than or equal to 2/3 of the maximum width 480, in this case ¼ of the width 480.

In addition, the base body 40 has a maximum height 405 parallel to the axial direction 46, which corresponds to 3/5 of the height 481.

The width 404 and height 405 selected in this way ensure that the flow channels 8 are large enough not to significantly influence the flow of a flow medium, for example a cleaning fluid, in the axial direction 46.

In the Figures 5-7 a guide ring 4 for guiding a centering bell into a filling device according to a further embodiment is shown. The guide ring 4 corresponds in its construction essentially to that shown in the Figures 1-4 shown.

In contrast to the previously described embodiment, the Figure 5 The guide ring 4 shown has support areas 42 on the support surfaces 420 of which have a double curvature. In other words, they are rounded on the one hand, like those in Figure 1 shown, and additionally provided with a curvature about an axis parallel to the axial direction 46, which is greater than a curvature predetermined by the maximum diameter 482, so that the support areas essentially have a hemispherical shape. By providing the double curvature, the support surfaces 420 in the installed state essentially form a point contact with the respective support surface, so that the abrasion surface of the support area is particularly small.

The sliding surfaces 410 of the sliding regions 41 have a concave curvature with a radius that is smaller than the radius of the sliding circle 412. Alternatively, the radius of the sliding regions 41 can also be larger than the radius of the sliding circle 412. In both variants, a contact area between the cylindrical surface and the sliding surfaces 410 is smaller than if the radius of the sliding circle 412 corresponds to the radius of the sliding surfaces 410. If the radius of the sliding surfaces 410 is smaller than that of the sliding circle 412, each sliding region 41 forms two contact areas with the cylindrical surface. If the radius of the sliding surfaces 410 is larger than that of the sliding circle 412, each sliding region 41 forms one contact area with the cylindrical surface.

In Figure 8 is a schematic perspective side view of a filling device 1 for filling a container with a flowable filling material. The filling tube 1 is designed in the present case for filling a can or a bottle with a beverage. It comprises a filling tube 3 for providing a flow of filling material, wherein the filling tube 3 corresponds to a second component of the filling device 1, and a centering bell 2 extending radially outside the filling tube 3 and movable relative to the filling tube 3 along a longitudinal axis 30 of the filling tube 3 for centering and/or sealing the container opening, wherein the centering bell 2 corresponds to a first component of the filling device 1 The filling element 1 further comprises guide rings 4 arranged at a distance from one another between an outer side of the filling tube 3 and an inner side of the centering bell 22 for guiding the centering bell 2 relative to the filling tube 3. The guide rings 4 correspond to the Figures 1-4 described embodiment. For better understanding, the centering bell 2 is shown translucent or partially transparent so that the filling tube 3 and the guide rings 4 can be seen.

Figure 9 shows schematically a sectional view through the filling element 1 from Figure 8 It can be clearly seen that there is a gap or an annular gap between the outside of the filling tube 3 and the inside of the centering bell 2, which in this embodiment provides a return gas channel 7 for gas or air displaced from the container during filling of the container with the filling material. The guide rings 4 are arranged in the return gas channel 7.

The sliding areas 41 of the guide rings 4 are in sliding contact with a cylindrical surface 5 of the outside of the filling tube 3 by means of their sliding surfaces 410.

To support the guide rings 4, the centering bell 2 has two V-shaped grooves 20, which are designed in such a way that it is possible to accommodate the support areas 42 of the guide rings 4. The V-shaped grooves 20 each have two support surfaces 6 inclined towards one another, with one support surface 6 in each case being in contact with a support surface 420 of a knob 48. The guide ring 4 is thereby fixed relative to the centering bell 2 both in the radial direction and in the axial direction.

Consequently, the centering bell 2 can be displaced relative to the filling tube 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30, whereby the guide rings 4 remain in a fixed position relative to the centering bell 2 due to the accommodation in the grooves 20, and the assembly of the centering bell 2 and the guide rings 4 can be displaced relative to the filling tube 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30. In order to achieve a seal of the return gas channel 7 at the upper end of the centering bell 2, the latter has a sealing ring 21 which is arranged on the upper end face of the centering bell 2 and is in sealing contact with a stationary part of the filling element 1.

A valve body 31 is provided inside the filling tube 3 and is arranged to be axially displaceable relative to the filling tube 3. As a result, the valve body 31 can be moved relative to a valve seat 32 of the filling pipe 3 to open or close a filling material flow channel 33 for the filling material.

In Figure 10 is a schematic further sectional view through the filling device from Figure 8 Here, the cut does not run through the studs 48, as in Figure 9 shown, but through the base body 40, so that the flow channels 8 provided radially inside and radially outside the base body 40 by the guide ring 4 can be seen. An inner flow channel 8 extends between the cylindrical surface 5 of the filling tube 3 and the base body 40, and an outer flow channel 8 extends between the base body 40 and the V-shaped groove 20.

The base body 40 has a shape of the guide ring 4 provided in an installation position, as shown in the Figures 9 and 10 shown, has a radially outwardly widened shape. This makes it possible to clip the guide rings 4 into the V-shaped grooves. In other words, the guide ring 4 lies in its Figures 9 and 10 shown installation position in a pre-tensioned state against the support surfaces 6 of the centering bell 2. Due to this pre-tension, the guide ring is therefore secure in the V-shaped groove 20, even if the centering bell 2 is not mounted on the filling tube 3.

Figure 11 shows a schematic sectional view through a filling device 1 for filling a container with a flowable filling material according to a further embodiment. The filling device 1 essentially corresponds to the one shown in Figure 8-10 shown, wherein a swirl body 9 is provided in the upper area of the centering bell 2. The swirl body 9 is in the form of a raised edge on the inside of the centering bell 2, which is spiral-shaped with respect to the longitudinal axis 30. The swirl body 9 imparts a Figure 11 Seen from above, the cleaning medium coming through the return gas channel 7, for example during a CIP cleaning, creates a swirl-loaded flow so that the cleaning medium does not flow towards the guide rings 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30, but at a certain angle to it. This exerts a swirl or a torque on the guide rings 4 around the longitudinal axis 30, so that the guide rings 4 are displaced in the circumferential direction while the cleaning medium flows around them. This makes it possible for the support surface in 6 and the cylindrical surface 5 to be completely cleaned by the cleaning medium.

list of reference symbols

1

filling organ

2

centering bell

20

Nut

21

sealing ring

3

filling tube

30

longitudinal axis

31

valve body

32

valve seat

33

filling material flow channel

4

guide ring

40

base body

400

inner radius

401

outer radius

402

circular ring segment

403

open area

404

Width

405

Height

41

sliding area

410

sliding surface

412

sliding pitch circle

42

support area

420

support surface

43

first page

44

second page

45

radial direction

46

axial direction

47

circumferential direction

48

nub

480

Width

481

Height

482

Maximum diameter

5

Cylindrical surface

6

support surface

7

return gas channel

8

flow channel

9

swirl body

Claims (14)

1. A filling element (1) for filling a container with a flowable filling material, preferably for filling a can or a bottle with a beverage, comprising two concentric components that are movable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis (30), wherein a first of the two components extends radially outside the second of the two components,

   wherein at least one guide ring (4) for guiding the first component relative to the second component is arranged between an outer side of the second component and an inner side of the first component,

   characterized in that the guide ring comprises a substantially ring-segment-shaped main body (40), wherein a plurality of sliding regions (41) that are spaced apart from one another and project radially on a first side (43) of the main body (44) for sliding over a cylindrical surface (5) and a plurality of support regions (42) that are spaced apart from one another, project radially on a second side (44) that is opposite the first side (43) and for radial or radial and axial support against at least one bracing surface (6) are arranged on the main body (40).
2. The filling element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second component is a filling tube (3) for providing a flow of filling material and the first component is a centering bell (2) extending radially outside the filling tube (3) and movable relative to the filling tube (3) along the longitudinal axis (30) of the filling tube (3) for centering and/or sealing a container opening.
3. The filling element (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a return gas channel (7) is formed between an outer side of the second component, preferably a filling tube (3), and an inner side of the first component, preferably a centering bell (2), for returning gases displaced from the container by inflowing filling material, wherein at least one guide ring (4) is arranged in the return gas channel (7).
4. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that a plurality of guide rings (4) for guiding the first component relative to the second component is arranged between the first component and the second component so as to be spaced apart from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis (30), wherein two guide rings (4) are preferably provided.
5. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that a groove (20), preferably a V-shaped groove (20), for receiving the support regions (42) of a guide ring (4) is provided on the inner side of the first component, and/or a groove, preferably a V-shaped groove, for receiving the support regions (42) of a guide ring (4) is provided on the outer side of the second component.
6. The filling element (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that each support region (42) of the guide ring (4) has two support surfaces (420) that are opposite one another when viewed in the axial direction, a first of the support surfaces (420) is in contact with a first surface of the V-shaped groove (20) and a second of the support surfaces (420) is in contact with a second surface of the V-shaped groove (20), wherein the support surfaces (420) preferably have a rounded zone, the support surfaces (420) each comprising the rounded zone are in contact with the corresponding surfaces of the V-shaped groove (20) such that there is point contact or line contact between a support surface (420) and the groove (20).
7. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a swirler (9) for generating a swirling flow in the region of a guide ring (4).
8. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the first side (43) when viewed in the radial direction corresponds to an inner side of the main body (40) and the second side (44) when viewed in the radial direction corresponds to an outer side of the main body (40), or in that the first side when viewed in the radial direction corresponds to an outer side of the main body (40) and the second side when viewed in the radial direction corresponds to an inner side of the main body (40).
9. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the sliding regions (41) each have at least one sliding surface (410), wherein the sliding surfaces (410) are preferably arranged in the radial direction on a sliding pitch circle (412), wherein the radius of the sliding pitch circle (412) is preferably smaller than or equal to an inner radius (400) of the main body (40) if the first side (43) corresponds to the inner side, or the radius of the sliding pitch circle (412) is equal to or greater than an outer radius (401) of the main body (40) if the first side corresponds to the outer side of the main body (40).
10. The filling element (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the sliding surfaces (410) are concavely curved with a radius which is smaller or larger than the radius of the sliding pitch circle (412) if the first side corresponds to the inner side, or the sliding surfaces (410) are convexly curved with a radius which is smaller or larger than the radius of the sliding pitch circle (410) if the first side corresponds to the outer side of the main body (40).
11. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that in each case a sliding region (41) and a support region (42) are arranged opposite one another at substantially the same location when viewed in the circumferential direction of the main body (40), or in that the support regions (42) and the sliding regions (41) are arranged in an alternating fashion when viewed in the circumferential direction, or in that the support regions (42) each have at least one support surface (420) for radial and/or axial support, wherein each support region (420) preferably has two support surfaces (420) which are opposite one another when viewed in the axial direction, are inclined in the axial direction and/or are rounded, which support surfaces are configured in such a way that both support surfaces (420) may provide radial support and axial support, wherein axial support in a first direction is made possible by a first of the two support surfaces (420) of a support region and axial support in a second direction opposite to the first direction is made possible by a second of the two support surfaces (420) of the same support region (42), wherein at least one support surface (420) has a double curvature.
12. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the guide ring (4) is formed in one piece and/or is an injection-molded part, a milled part, a turned part, or a 3D-printed part, or in that the support regions (42) and/or the sliding regions (41) protrude in the axial direction from the main body (40) on at least one side of the main body (40), or in that a plurality of knobs (48) raised radially around the circumference of the main body (40) are arranged along the main body (40), wherein each knob (48) has a sliding region (41) and a support region (42).
13. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the main body (40) extends in a circular arc segment (402), wherein the open region of the circular arc segment (402) is larger than an increase in length of the main body (40) in the circumferential direction caused by a temperature change within a predetermined temperature range, or in that the main body (40) has a radially outwardly widened or an inwardly narrowed shape with respect to a shape of the guide ring (4) provided in an installation position, or in that the guide ring (4) is configured in such a way that when a fluid flows around the guide ring (4) in the axial direction, the fluid causes a resulting force to act in the circumferential direction on the guide ring (4), wherein the guide ring (4) is preferably substantially symmetrical and additionally has an asymmetrical swirl surface arranged in such a way that when the fluid flows around the guide ring (4) in the axial direction, the fluid generates a force in the circumferential direction on the guide ring (4).
14. The filling element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that a maximum width (404) of the main body (40) perpendicularly to the axial direction of the guide ring (4) corresponds to less than or equal to 2/3, preferably 1/2, particularly preferably 1/4 of a maximum width (480) of the guide ring (4) perpendicularly to the axial direction, and/or a maximum height (405) of the main body (40) parallel to the axial direction of the guide ring (4) corresponds to less than or equal to 4/5, preferably 3/5 of a maximum height (481) of the guide ring (4) parallel to the axial direction.

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